Fret not, Missouri fans. Point guard Phil Pressey’s knee injury was diagnosed as a mild knee sprain and he’ll only have to sit for a few days.

Forgive Missouri fans if they’re a bit sensitive about such things. The Tigers lost power forward Laurence Bowers, arguably the team’s best player, in preseason to a torn ACL last year. So when Pressey banged knees with a teammate during a practice this week, gasps were to be expected.

Point guard Phil Pressey’s knee injury was diagnosed as a mild knee sprain and he’ll only have to sit for a few days. (AP Photo)

“Fortunately, Phil will be fine,” Missouri coach Frank Haith said in a statement. “We will put him in a brace for a couple of days and then he should be cleared, but I’m not sure I see a need to play him in Europe to be honest. He wasn’t going to play a lot anyway. He had such a busy summer that he could use the rest and I want to see some different combinations out there while we have this opportunity.”

Missouri is practicing in advance of the team’s five-game, 10-day exhibition trip to Europe that begins next Wednesday.

The exhibition games, plus the 10 bonus practice sessions allowed in advance of the trip, are especially important for Haith as he’s trying to work transfers Alex Oriakhi, Tony Criswell, Jabari Brown, Earnest Ross and Keion Bell into the rotation.

With so many newcomers -- plus the return of Bowers -- Pressey’s presence is needed. After all, it’s the point guard’s job to get everyone involved and keep everyone on the same page. Even without Bowers, Pressey helped lead the Tigers to a 30-win season. Big things again are expected. Missouri is ranked No. 12 in Sporting News’ preseason top 25.

“Everybody’s doing what they’re supposed to be doing to get ready for what we want to be the most special season in Mizzou basketball history,” guard Michael Dixon told Sporting News.